The Noble Canyon Trail might be the best piece of singletrack in San Diego County. This trail is the third part of a three-part ride. This ride proceeds as follows. Click below for a different leg.

Pine Creek... Indian Creek/Pine Mountain Trails... Noble Canyon Trail.


Click Noble for a larger map. Click back-button to return here.

I had just ridden 1.5 miles up the highway from the Pioneer Mail Trailhead after briefly stopping at the roadside memorial to the Cedar Fire, when I first spotted the parking lot for Noble Canyon. There are two trailheads for Noble Canyon. I had started the day at the trailhead in Pine Valley, often called the "lower" trailhead. I was now approaching the "upper" trailhead. A large majority of bikers use two cars so they can bike down the canyon ... then drive back up to get their other vehicle.

Noble Trailhead (Lagunas)

Non-potable water?

The Noble Canyon Trailhead, normally packed on a Sunday, had only three cars ... and people were quickly opening doors and piling in.

I took photos of the Trailhead and the spigot where I normally filled my bottles and normally ate a snack. I recently read at the ranger station (when trying to get my adventure pass) this water was not potable. Recently contaminated? I would have to find out, but not today.

I had plenty of water and couldn't wait to get down into Noble Canyon, where I hoped to get some protection from the vile elements. Ten miles of single track lay ahead of me ... that is what the Noble Trail had to offer. Starting in a pine forest ... crossing Pine Creek 4 different times ... traversing a brush-covered mountain with spectacular views ... plunging deep into a canyon with solid oak canopy ... crossing creeks flowing through garden-like glens ... out of the trees and hugging the rugged canyon walls through chaparral and cacti ... climbing gradually through a saddle ... around the shoulder of a mountain ... then zigzagging back to the parking area. Normally I would have been exhilarated for the ride ahead. This day ... I was just looking to get down and get warm.

Uphill on the Noble?

The first mile of the Noble Canyon Trail does have some uphill. I remember the first time riding the Noble Canyon trail I had told Jim (a friend) and George (my older brother) "The whole trail is down hill" (from what I'd heard and read, it was). I thought they could do this ride even though they had not been doing much riding and were not in great shape. We did a shuttle vehicle so we could just ride "down" ... then drive back up to get the other car. "All downhill? Humph," Jim had grumbled after finishing this bit of climbing. However, I think he did appreciate the incredible views north to San Jacinto and San Gorgonio Mountains once the climbing was over. We were lucky the sky was clear that day. This day ... no such luck ... no such views.

Following numerous switchbacks into Noble Canyon I did find the winds less driving, yet my body seemed to get colder. Cranking up a steep hill does help generate heat ... but I was now coasting. One of the strangest things was the condition of my thumbs, burning/aching from the cold. I stopped once just to hold them under my armpits.

Major Road Block

I then came around the corner and locked-up the rear brakes ... astonished. A humongous oak tree had fallen across the trail ... and when I say humongous ... I mean it! Just climbing around the root ball took a major effort.

As I carried my bike across Noble Creek I thought back to when George and I both crossed at this very spot ... and stood on the other side.

Jim walked across here ... with a big smile.

We had been consistently riding ahead ... then waiting for Jim to catch up. But this time Jim didn't show ... and didn't show ... didn't show ... and we started to get worried, especially since I had talked him into taking this ride. I knew he must have gone off a cliff or taken a boulder head-on. But no ... he finally appeared on the other side of the creek ... with a big smile on his face ... and half his body was soaked (the other half dry).

My buddy Jim (on a previous ride).

The odd part was his whole left side was wet ... the right side completely dry. We could hardly wait for him to cross the creek so he could explain. "Where you been?" I asked. "Well, you are not going to believe this," he answered, big smile still on his face. "Tell us!" I demanded. This was his story. "I was riding along this here Noble Canyon Trail, and decided I needed a rest ... so I slowed down and put my right foot down. The only problem was the trail had no right side so ... I rolled off my bike ... down a bank ... across a boulder, and landed in the creek ...on my left side. The water was only about a foot deep, so I managed to stay somewhat dry." We asked if he was all right and he said he'd never felt better. If only I'd had my camera that day!

Trailside Agave blossom overlooks creek.

The Noble Canyon Trail stays about 100 feet above the creek in the lower part of the canyon, jogging east every time it needs to cross an incoming tributary ... over very rugged terrain. The wind had decreased once I had entered Noble Canyon, but now was more prevalent with no trees to break it. I chose a place deep in a side ravine to take a break. I enjoyed another Cliff Bar and soaked up some heat. The ground there looked as if it was a big pile of mine tailings, but I did not feel like looking around for a hole ... something to explore next time ... in better weather.

Wicked piece of "trail."

I walked across an extremely wicked hunk of trail and remembered the first time I'd been there. We had just walked down that section when we came across a somewhat heavy, middle-aged guy, whose skin looked like tomato skin. He was having trouble breathing. I was worried he was having a heart attack right there. He went to lay in the shade of a large bush ... and within a few minutes pronounced himself ready to ride. We left before him, but I guess he must have made it out of there ... didn't hear any reports about him on the news.

Cindy said these are Scarlet Bugler

With the nasty weather I decided not to do the last part of the Noble Canyon Trail ... the one the 6 guys had done that morning. I had done that section before and couldn't remember anything worthy of a picture. So I crossed over to Pine Creek Road and coasted back to the car. I saw a wild turkey where the road crossed the creek. I slowly cruised to a stop and stealthily got off the bike and removed my camera ... but couldn't get a photo. I tried following him but he seemed to have vanished into the brush. "Maybe they're not as dumb as they say."

I thought I had the only car left at the trailhead until I heard people yelling. I checked the other end of the circle and saw some guys chasing paper plates, napkins, lawn chairs, hot dogs ... everything, across the parking lot. I couldn't believe someone would try to barbeque on a day like this. I quickly loaded everything, changed into dry clothes, and set the heater on "HIGH". As I was leaving I checked my GPS ... 20.3 miles ... the coldest 20.3 mile ride I'd ever done.

Health Food Served Here

Heading to the freeway I couldn't help but notice the Frosty Burger in Pine Valley. Jim, George, and I had stopped there after our assault on Noble Canyon. What better way to celebrate a successful ride than to eat a large burger, fries, and a coke? This time I drove on past ... not wanting to get out of the car, not wanting to leave the heater. Noble Canyon Trail ... the best stretch of trail in San Diego? I still think so, despite the weather.

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